from the fiscal cliff. >>> former president george h.w. bush in intentive care. we'll have the latest on that. >>> a vigil for firefighters, a tornado in action and december surfing in the great lakes. good morning. i'm mara schiavocampo. a powerful winter storm that brought an odd mix of tornadoes, heavy winds and snow to the nation's midsection is now wreaking havoc on the northeast. snow and sleet have produced treacherous road conditions from pennsylvania and western new york to maine with more than a foot of snow expected in some areas. this storm so far being blamed for at least six deaths. and as nbc's kurt gregory reports, the storm is creating a post holiday travel nightmare. >> reporter: cleanup on the day after christmas for the deep south. a record of more than 20 tornadoes as a massive storm system ripped through mississippi and alabama and left arkansas with a record-breaking white christmas. that storm system continued its march across the center of the nation wednesday, leaving a near whiteout from detroit -- >> not used to